John Philip Roos ’55

    John, Cincinnati born and bred, a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, and a beekeeper for 50 years, died April 6, 2023. He was born June 28, 1933, and except for time in the military, happily spent his entire life  in Cincinnati.

John was president of his class at Anderson High School all four years and wound up as valedictorian. His activities were student government, publications, and football. At Princeton, he majored in politics and joined Tiger Inn. He was active in Orange Key, Keycept, and the SCA cabinet. Senior-year roommates were Kenly Webster, Alex Weech, and Alex Babcock.

After Princeton, he married Meredith Milne, earned a master’s degree from  Xavier University, flew helicopters for the Marines, and spent 21 years in the Reserve before retiring as a full colonel. His professional career was spent in management at Cincinnati Gas & Electric  for 33 years, then six years for the State of Ohio before retiring. He loved church, volunteer work, golf, travel, working in the garden, and tending to his bees, having been stung hundreds of times without seeming to care.

In the 50th-reunion book John said, “Thanks to Princeton, my life has been good, and I will be first in line to queue up for another cycle through the same scenario.”

Survivors include his wife, Meredith; daughter Kathleen; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Erich.